Barcelona With Kids – 25 Awesome Things To Do

Barcelona is such an amazing city that offers pretty much everything for all types of travelers, from adults to children alike!

Visiting Barcelona with kids? Definitely a great idea! There are so many things to do with your family in the city! From the famous Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo to amusement parks, museums and family tours in Barcelona, the city provides endless fun and a never-ending list of things to do!

If you prepare in advance, you will definitely not miss out on the most colorful and fun places, I promise!

Here are the 25 best things to do in Barcelona with kids, including some lesser-known attractions that are definitely worth your time:

1. Sagrada Familia – kids edition

Sagrada Familia is the most iconic attraction in the entire city of Barcelona and your kids are going to like it a lot, especially if you go at sunset! While you enjoy the stunning interior of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece, your kids can share an audio guide or just wander around and admire the stunning architecture.

If you want to visit one of the most famous European attractions AND skip the long line to it, I highly recommend to  pre-book your tickets! The entrance fee is 17€ for adults, children under the age of 11 can enter for free.

NOTE 1: For safety reasons, children under the age of 6 are not allowed up the Towers of Sagrada Familia.

NOTE 2: The tickets for skip-the-line to the famous Basilica are only available starting at 2:00 PM. If you want to go earlier, you might want to consider a guided tour.

2. Casa Battlo – kids edition

If you are going to visit Casa Batllo with kids, you will definitely make their visit unforgettable by taking a dramatized theatrical tour of Casa Batllo. Either Gaudí himself or Lady Ramoneta – the Batlló family’s housekeeper – will show you the nooks and crannies of the house and tell you unforgettable anecdotes (aaaaand take you to the beautiful rooftop of the building of course!).

NOTE: The theatrical tour takes place only on Sundays and children under the age of 7 can enter for free. The price for adults is 37€.

3. La Boqueria Food Market and La Rambla

La Rambla is one of the most famous streets in Barcelona and, although it is not my favorite part of town,  it is still a must see when you are visiting the city with your family! Bustling with cafes, bookstalls, flower kiosks, human statues – it is worth “rambling” at least once! 🙂

Why is it not my favorite? Because it is excessively touristy, the restaurants are overpriced and one of them even won a prize as the worst restaurant in Spain. By the way, I recommend you do not eat in the Las Ramblas area because, due to high demand, all the dishes they serve are most likely prepared from frozen food.

La Boqueria market (meaning “butcher market”), which is just around the corner, is one of the best markets in Barcelona and a much better option. You will find all kinds of food there – and everything is fresh! Once you go inside, you will be surrounded by a riot of noise, colors and smells. Mouth-watering displays of fruits, vegetables, exotic fish, ham and cheese – in short, an absolute eye candy everywhere!

I suggest you take a break at one of the bars and treat yourself to a snack; your kids will love a colorful smoothie! There are also a couple of local restaurants on the side of the market – some offer kids menu, check them out !

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4. Magic Fountains show

The show is accessible, fun and it has a special place on my list of top 10 things to do in Barcelona with kids!

I remember I myself jumped with excitement the first time I saw the Magic Fountain Show, so I can only imagine how happy the little ones will be!

The unique show of water, lights, and music is an unforgettable experience for adults and children alike!

The Magic Fountains are located at Plaça d’Espanya (the closest metro is called the same, but it is about 8 minutes walking from the station) and there is an evening fountain show every day. You can check the updated schedule here.

5. Park Guell

If you want your child to learn many fun things about Antoni Gaudi during their vacation, here is an additional great idea of what to do in Barcelona with kids! Park Guell is another one of Gaudi’s masterpieces and really a very nice experience for your children as well! Your kids will truly feel like they are in a fairy tale because of the “Hansel and Gretel” style houses!

Please note that the place might be quite crowded, but you can avoid all the hustle and make your visit enjoyable by reading this article about how you can skip the line to the most important attractions in the city. Don’t forget to enjoy and walk around in the free area after your visit as well!

NOTE: Children under the age of 6 can enter the monumental area free of charge. The ticket price for adults is 8.50€/person.

If you want to prepare your kids for the visit, I suggest you watch this:

6. Ciutadella Park

How about taking your kiddos to the most famous park in the city? Parc de la Ciutadella is the farthest thing from boring, as it has row boats, fountains, play areas and even a full-size replica of a mammoth! It is always a good idea to have a picnic there and spend some calm, quality time with your family!

The Zoo (below in this list) is located inside this park too, but it has a separate entrance that requires a ticket.

7. L’aquarium Barcelona

Did you know that The Aquarium of Barcelona hosts Europe’s largest sea tunnel?

Located in the Gothic Quarter, Aquarium has a tunnel with big sharks, manta rays, moonfish, penguins and many other sea creatures that your child will be fascinated by! It also has many interactive spaces where kids can play and enjoy themselves. Your kids will love it, and you will too! 😉

In the summertime, the Aquarium is open until 9:00 PM, but I recommend visiting in the morning or afternoon to see the shows. There are generally no queues, but I still recommend buying your tickets online beforehand. There are different prices for adults (20€), children from 5 to 10 years old (15€), children between 3 and 4 (7€) and there is even a family pack for 2 adults and 2 children that you can buy for 60€. You can book your tickets in advance here.

NOTE: Birthday parties for children aged 3-10 can also be organized at the Aquarium!

8. Chocolate Museum

Cute little museum close to Ciutadella Park that your kids (and you!) will love! At Museu de la Xocolata your children can learn a little bit of the history of chocolate, see how it is made and even walk around various sculptures made entirely of chocolate. And the best part? They can taste it, of course! The entrance ticket is a chocolate bar and there is a charming cafe offering all kinds of chocolate treats if you want to try them. It is a tiny place (hence, the ticket price) so it can be visited in about 30-40 mins.  Say, for example, the weather is bad and you are searching for some cool indoor things to do in Barcelona; this is definitely the place to go!

The entrance fee is 6€, kids under the age of 7 can enter for free.

NOTE: If your kids love chocolate (there should probably be no “if” in that sentence), you can also take a chocolate tour for families. While your kids indulge their taste buds with chocolate and sweets from different shops, combined with blindfolded sweets tasting and a scavenger’s hunt, you can have some well-deserved parental rest.

9. Montserrat Mountain

If you want to do some Barcelona sightseeing with your family, this is the perfect place to go! Montserrat is an unusual looking mountain, located very close to the city. Up the mountain you can find the Montserrat monastery and a museum and I can say that visiting the open-air museum with kids is definitely a great idea! They will enjoy the epic views, the cable cars and the boys choir in the monastery!

10. Port Aventura Theme Park

I promise your kids will remember this vacation for many years if you take them to one of the Europe’s biggest adventure parks!

Port Aventura park offers rides for all ages – from super cute Sesame street rides for 3-year-olds to thrilling rides for teenagers (and yourself, why not?). It also has the fastest and tallest ride in Europe, so it is definitely one of the best things to do with kids!

NOTE: You can get a very good deal for a Port Aventura and Ferrari Land day trip combo with transportation included, or a 20% discount if you are a Barcelona City Pass Holder.

11. Parc del Laberint d’Horta

Here is an awesome challenge: try to find your way out of this labyrinth park with your kids!

Parc del Laberint d’Horta is relatively unknown by tourists at the moment, which makes it a perfect spot for lunch or just some relaxation. Oh, and did you know that a famous scene from the movie “Perfume – The Story of a Murderer” was filmed there?

Besides the beautiful, green labyrinth, the park has a beautiful 14th-century house, a waterfall and many alleys where you and your kids can stroll around! The entrance fee is 2.17€/adult, except for Wednesdays and Sundays, when the admission is free. Children under the age of 5 can enter for free any day of the week.

12. Poble Espanyol

If you would like to visit all of Spain but you do not have enough time, you should stop by Poble Espanyol!

Poble Espanyol is an open-air architectural museum in Barcelona that will give you an appreciation of authentic Spanish cuisines, crafts and the types of architecture in different regions of the country. Located in a calm place with no traffic, it is ideal for both children and adults!

There are some amazing workshops held there, where your kids can learn how Spanish people produced crafts back in the day!

The price at the door is 14€ for an adult, 7€ for a kid and 36€ for a family of 4. You can purchase a ticket for 11.2€ here if you buy your tickets online (cheaper than on the official website!). Also, you can get a 20% discount if you are a Barcelona City Pass holder.

NOTE: Not many people know this, but after 8:00 PM you can get an evening ticket for only 7€ (you can only buy it there at the door)! It is going to be darker, indeed, but the whole village is nicely illuminated, so it is an interesting experience to try.

There is also a video guide available (+3.50€), but I remember that, when I visited, it did not have headphones included. You can take your own with you or listen to the information without it, although sometimes it can be hard to hear.

Poble Espanyol is open 365 days a year, on Fridays until 3 AM, and Saturdays until 4 AM (this is unbelievable for Spain!). You can check the updated schedule here.

13. Barcelona beaches

If you are having a Barcelona family holiday during the summer, then enjoying the Mediterranean sun on a beach is a very good idea for everyone who enjoys this type of activity!

La Barceloneta beach is the easiest one to reach, but keep in mind it is also the most crowded. The Olympic Village beach is also one of the best family beaches in Barcelona because it has a “spider web” of structures that the little ones can climb and even a playground! Nova Icaria beach is one of the quietest and family- friendly beaches in Barcelona, while Bogatell beach has a fun little playground for the little ones, as well as table tennis, basketball and beach football!

NOTE: Whichever beach you choose, please do not leave your belongings unattended as the pickpockets are professionals in Barcelona!

14. CosmoCaixa Science Museum

Your kids can go ahead and touch everything in CosmoCaixa Barcelona, as curiosity has no limits there! This is a science museum and it is designed to stimulate people’s knowledge of science through interactive exhibitions and fun activities. Sounds perfect for the little ones, right?

Make sure you do not miss the Flooded Forest, the Geological Wall, the Room of Matter and the Planetarium!

The normal price is 4€ for adults, but you can find a cheaper option for 2.50€ here. Children under the age of 16 can enter for free. Booking in advance is essential.

15. Barcelona for Kids Family walking tour

This Barcelona tour is specially designed with 4 to 12-year-olds in mind. In short, this 2.5 hour walking tour will give them a chance to explore the legends of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, visit traditional workshops, yummy candy stores and much more! I truly believe this is one of the top 10 family things to do in Barcelona, as you will get to spend some quality time together, while also discovering this unique city!

If this sounds like the perfect tour for your kids, you can book it here.

If you want to see all the highlights of Barcelona in a very unique and unforgettable way, I suggest you read this article.

16. Hop-on/Hop-off bus

The Double-Decker tourist bus is probably the easiest way to get around the city with kids. Not much walking is required and you can stop wherever you want and then re-board the bus to continue your journey! The kids will love looking at the attractions from the second floor of the bus, feeling the wind on their face and watching the trees that line the avenues! Plus, if you don’t have a lot of time in the city but you still want to experience it to its fullest, this is one of those very good, last-minute things to do in Barcelona!

The price is 30€ with or without a stroller, and there is no need to print the ticket! You can buy it here

Remember, this is also a great money-saving tip for those using the Hop-on bus – you can get a Barcelona Pass that includes the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, a skip-the-line-tour to Sagrada Familia, Park Guell fast track, the transfer to and from the airport and 20% discount to numerous attractions. This is a REALLY good deal and I definitely recommend it. Check it out here.

NOTE: You will find many discounts if you take a map provided by the Hop-on/Hop-off bus. It is usually 20% or a couple of euros off of the most popular attractions in the city. It may not sound like much, but it adds up if you want to visit many sites and if you are traveling in a large group/family. Remember – you will get one booklet with discounts per person!

17. Virtual tour of Gaudi architecture in 4D

If your children are older than 6 years of age, you can take them to G Experiencia for a thrilling ride where they will virtually fly over Sagrada Familia and see all the other important Gaudi sites in Barcelona in 4D! It’s super modern and exciting and one of the top things to do in Barcelona with your family!

NOTE: There is also a special kid’s area there, where they can play and learn everything about the Spanish architectural genius and the Barcelona landmarks.

18. Montjuic cable cars

Hop on a cable car to enjoy some panoramic views over the rooftops to the Pyrenees, beyond the sparkling Mediterranean Sea! We went on a Saturday and we had the cable car all to ourselves! The price is 12.70€ roundtrip for adults and 9.20€ for kids – you can check the updated prices here.

I am sure your little ones will enjoy running around on the Montjuic Hill, while you enjoy fantastic views of the city – this is definitely one of the most relaxing Barcelona youngster’s activities that you can try!

I also recommend a visit to the citadel of Monjuic! The entrance fee is 5€/adults, 3€/students and free for kids up to 16 years old.

NOTE: On Sundays, after 3 PM everyone can enter free of charge!

If you want to visit it, you can either walk or get a roundtrip cable car ticket. Either way, don’t forget to stop by the “mirador”; it will give you a great panoramic view of the city, just like Google maps in 3D, but in real life! 🙂

PRO TIP: If you are in search for the best tapas in town, there is a street not far from there which is called Blai, it is pretty local, not known by tourists (yet), but they have AMAZING tapas that both you and your kids will love!

19. Tibidabo Amusement Park

Looking for even more fun things to do in Barcelona? Tibidabo Park is so charming and vintage-looking, that it will bring you back to the 70s! But don’t let that stop you – all of the attractions are safe, some of them are even brand new and they adopted this old-style on purpose.

While you are there, you can hop on the magical carousel, any number of thrilling rides or the sparkling Ferris wheel to check out some of Barcelona’s incredible scenic views. To get a 5% discount, you can buy tickets online in advance here.

Oh, and do not forget to visit the Cathedral and walk around the residential area a little bit. It is adorable and your kids will surely enjoy it!

20. Barcelona Zoo

Many children love going to the zoo, and the one in Barcelona is especially impressive! Enjoy the wildlife in Barcelona Zoo that hosts 2,000 animals from around 300 different species.

I recommend visiting the zoo in the morning when they organize activities dedicated to kids from 4 to 11 years old where kids will see how the dolphins are fed and meet a zoo vet. Plus, you can organize your kid’s birthday party there!

Most open activities are scheduled for the weekends and holidays and you can check the schedule here. Make sure to take a lunch with you (or you can buy it inside), as there are many pretty lunch spots where you can relax with your family!

You can book your tickets for this Barcelona family attraction on their website in advance with a 10% discount here. The discounted price is 19.26€/adults and 11.65€/child. Kids under the age of 3 can enter for free.

21. Illa Fantasia

If you are visiting Barcelona during the summer, it would be a fantastic idea to refresh yourselves in a cool water park with your kids! Illa Fantasia is a water park near Barcelona with 22 attractions and 3 macro swimming pools. Enjoyment for the whole family is guaranteed there!

The prices are 28€/adult and 17€ for kids shorter than 1.20m. If your son/daughter is shorter than 90 cm, he/she gets in for free! You can buy your tickets on the official website here.

22. Barça Football

If you have sons (or daughters that are into football), it would be very exciting to take them to one of the soccer games, as they are very safe for people of all ages! The stadium is huge, but tickets get sold out fast. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance!

Alternatively, if the matches start too late for your kids to attend, you can always take them for a tour of Camp Nou – tours are offered during the day and there are no crowds of football fans to deal with!

23. Marineland

For another great water activity, Marineland is a family water park with slides and splash pools for kiddies. Moreover, it also features some amazing dolphin shows and exotic bird exhibitions.

NOTE: It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there from Barcelona on a free bus, so it is quite a ride and is not recommended for very small kids.

The online price is discounted and it is 25€ for adults, 16€ for children from 5 to 10 years old and 10€ for kids from 3 to 4 years old. You can also buy a family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) for 80€. You can buy your tickets online here.

24. Catalunya en Miniatura

How does a miniature theme park sound to you? You will feel just like a giant at Miniature Catalonia Park! Your kids will be able to climb on the gingerbread houses from Park Guell, touch the peaks of Sagrada and the entire place offers endless fantastic photo opportunities! It’s basically like a kid’s indoor playground in Barcelona!

This attraction is located outside the city and the ticket price for an adult is 28€/adult and 9.50€ for children. You can find out how to get there on their website here.

25. Aqualeon

Yet another fun and relaxing water park, Aqualeon offers unlimited fun to adults and kids alike with pools, giant slides, tunnels and a bus safari tour that passes by lions, tigers, and bears!

The park opens in June and the ticket prices are 27.50€ for adults, 18.50€ for children (5 to 10 years old) and 10€ (3 to 4 years old). Plus, toddlers under the age of 2 can enter for free! To get there, it takes about 1.5 – 2 hours from Barcelona and the bus is 6€ round trip per person.

UPDATE: Can’t go to the water park now because they are all closed during the pandemic? I feel you! Here is my guide for the best inflatable water-slides that will make your kids feel like they are in an adventure park!

🤩 Range of activities:	Large
👪 Family-friendly score:	Great
🌆 Famous attraction:	Sagrada Familia
🏛️ Best museum:	Museu de la Xocolata
🎡 Best kids activity:	Port Aventura
⛲ Best free activity:	Magic Fountain Show
🌱 Best green space:	Parc de la Ciutadella
🍽️ Dinner for 4:	€45
💵 Avg hotel PRICE:	€150
🚕 Average taxi price:	€10
📅 How many days:	2-5
✈️ Cost of traveling:	Medium

Best family hotels in Barcelona

Wondering where to stay in Barcelona with kids? Don’t worry, as I carefully did my research for family and kid- friendly hotels for you! All of these hotels are located in the city center and all of them have fabulous reviews. They are sorted by price for your convenience. Click the link to check the rates for your dates:

Luxury ($300 USD and up):

Hotel Pullman Barcelona Skipper is a 5-star establishment located in the city center and one of the best family-friendly hotels in Barcelona! It is within walking distance to the beach, so if you are traveling with your eager-to-swim children, this is the perfect location. Another great place to stay with your babies is Ca La Maria Barcelona, which offers a wonderful terrace on which you can spend quality time with your family. It is located near the famous La Rambla Street.

Middle ($150 – $200 USD):

Ella Guest House Barcelona is a wonderful accommodation option that includes a nice terrace where, at night, you will hear the birds sing. You can hardly believe that you are in the middle of Barcelona! Another option to consider is Hostel Martinval, which is definitely one of the best child-friendly hotels in Barcelona, as you will not need to walk very far on foot to reach the top tourist attractions.

Budget (up to $100USD):

Pension Mariluz, which is situated in the Gothic neighborhood of Barcelona and has been reviewed by past guests as the perfect choice for a wonderful vacation. Another great budget choice for your vacation is Suites Marina – Abapart, which puts at the disposal of its guests an apartment equipped with every household item you would need to make you feel right at home. It is situated a couple of hundred meters from the timeless Gaudi’s church.

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Conclusion

Barcelona is one of the best and most popular cities in Europe, and visiting it together with your kids can only be a wonderful experience for the entire family! There is so much to do and see in Barcelona with kids, especially because it is such a safe and kid- friendly city!

In this list, I noted the best family activities in Barcelona that I am sure will be super interesting and exciting for your kids. Plus, all of these activities will embrace the incredible Catalan culture at the same time, so children will definitely learn something new during their Barcelona holidays! I hope you will have the time of your life in the capital of Catalonia!

I wish you a fun family trip to Barcelona!

Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions, I will be happy to reply!

Yulia

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